Call to keep rail line public

EDINBURGH North and Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz has called for the East Coast Rail Line to be kept in public hands, as the consultation into its future closes.

The Westminster government plans to sell off the franchise next year.

Mr Lazarowicz, right, called for passengers to be given “real choice”, and said: “I believe that the best option for the East Coast Line is for it to continue to be run as a publicly operated company.

“If the government is not willing to do that, it should consider running it as a mutual or cooperative-style company. That would fit with its ‘Big Society’ agenda which we have seen few concrete examples of so far and provide real choice for passengers to the privately-operated rail and air competitors on the route.”